Walking into the kitchen, my eyes landed on my mom and Lexi sitting at the island, wine glasses in hand. They both looked deep in conversation, sharing the intimacy only women can conjure with a glance or a laugh."Look, Luke, there isn't a Beta house on the property. Just figured you could shack up here in the main house for a while," I said, turning back to my friend, making an effort to sound casual.Luke glanced at Lexi, a mixture of contemplation and, was it longing, crossing his face? "Well, one wing of this place is already bigger than our apartments combined," he mused.His gaze met mine, and a mutual understanding passed between us. "Alright, that's okay with me," he finally said, breaking into a small, accepting smile.As I moved to the fridge, I couldn't help but catch snippets of their conversation, of mom's hearty laughter, and Lexi's soft-spoken questions. My eyes shifted toward Lexi, then back to Luke. They shared a bond, something palpable and real. It was like a strin
The drive back to the apartment was thick with tension, the silence in the car almost oppressive. From my spot in the passenger seat, I glanced back and forth between Clay and Lexi. Her eyes met mine briefly—those vibrant green orbs clouded by a flicker of confusion and concern. She looked as lost as I felt. Clay, meanwhile, was unreadable. His jaw was set, eyes fixed on the road, a statue of impassive concentration. Was it the weight of his imminent leadership that burdened him so? Or was it something simpler yet infinitely more complex, like when Lexi climbed onto my back instead of his wet one? My thoughts cycled through the possibilities, each more unnerving than the last. When we finally pulled up to the apartment, the atmosphere remained heavy, unbroken even by the jingle of keys or the slam of car doors. Leaning closer to Lexi as we exited the car, I whispered so softly I wasn't sure she'd hear. "Take a bath when we get up there." She nodded, a tiny movement almost lost in th
Lexi and Clay emerged from the bathroom, their faces mixed with relief and lingering concerns. At that moment, I was out on the balcony, packing away kettlebells and yoga mats, trying to drown my tumultuous thoughts in the mundane tasks.Lexi slid the balcony door open and stepped out, her eyes searching my face. "Are you okay?"I glanced up, meeting her probing gaze. "I'm managing, but I suspect you already knew that," I said, the implication hanging between us like a cobweb, delicate but hard to ignore.She paused, a puzzled expression flitting across her face. "What do you mean?"I sighed, gathering my words. "There's something different radiating off you, Lexi. Whether you admit it or not, we all feel it, including you. After we get past the move, and the ceremony tomorrow, I swear I'll delve deep into the annals of lore and legends to unravel this mystery. We have to understand what's pulling us all into its orbit."Her eyes widened slightly, a blend of apprehension and curiosity
My muscles ached pleasantly as I lowered the dumbbell back into the box, my breath mingling with the early morning air. I grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat off my face, glancing up as the moving truck pulled into the driveway. Omegas emerged from the vehicle, ready to assist with the move. Today was the culmination of everything I'd trained for, fought for, and bled for. I was about to become the Alpha of the pack. Oddly, amid the swirl of emotions, a sense of serenity anchored me. It wasn't just about the title or the responsibilities; it was about a lifetime of lessons from my parents, the elders, and even from my own past mistakes. I'd trained for this moment since I could walk. I had dreamt of this day, and it was unfolding better than I ever hoped. With Lexi, my destined Luna, and Luke, my most trusted friend, beside me, I felt invincible. It was as though every challenge I'd faced had been a stepping stone, preparing me for this very moment. I was ready, not because I had t
I watched through the windshield as Clay and Luke darted in and out of the trees, their wolf forms gliding effortlessly through the woods. It was like watching two forces of nature playfully interacting, a display of camaraderie and primal energy that left me both enthralled and introspective. The weight of the impending ceremony settled over me like a gossamer veil, insubstantial yet unmistakably present."Why here? Why now?" I whispered to myself, contemplating the baffling turns of fate that had led me to this moment. Then a thought, uninvited yet impossible to ignore, whispered through my mind: Because they are your mates.The plural form of that word—mates—sent a shockwave through me. My heart pounded wildly, like a frantic drum against my ribcage. Was that even possible? Could the universe indeed be pointing me toward not one but two fates inexorably intertwined with mine?"No, stop," I muttered, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. This was no time f
The moment I saw Lexi standing on the porch of the pack house, enveloped in that radiant dress, something seismic shifted inside me. It was as if the world suddenly crystallized, every blurred edge snapping into laser-sharp focus. I felt as though I'd been skimming the surface of a deep ocean, and now I was plunging headfirst into its depths. The impact was profound, flooring me with the realization that I was utterly, irrevocably in love with her. And not just love—a conviction that she would be an astounding Luna, one that would help redefine what it meant to lead, care, and love a pack. After I set her down from our brief, whirlwind embrace, I led her to the table where Luke and I had been sitting. My hand rested on the back of a chair, pulling it out for her. "Here, sit, love," I said, trying to sound casual despite the cascade of emotions coursing through me. I seated her between Luke and myself, catching Luke's eye as I did. For a brief second, my eyes flashed gold. I had a pr
My world tilted off its axis when Lexi stepped onto that porch. Dressed in that radiant white dress, she looked ethereal, every bit a Luna. I felt love stir within me, sending my emotions into chaos. It was disconcerting, to say the least.Love?My mind buzzed with questions that were answered only by the painful tug in my chest.Everything was a blur from there—the pack's anticipatory zest, Clay challenging his father, and the two grappling in their wolf forms. None of it anchored my attention quite like watching Clay bite Lexi. An unseen blade carved a jagged line through my soul when his fangs met her skin. My heart splintered into pieces, and I wondered why. She couldn't be my fated mate. Yet the emotion that swelled inside me was raw, potent, and spoke of something far more profound than simple affection.The elder ladies—Heidi, Hilda, and Gertrude—hurried to scoop up Lexi, their wise faces lined with reverence for the ritual that had just transpired. They quickly gauged her e
Still wrestling with my thoughts, I glanced at Lexi, her eyes already meeting mine as if she sensed the turmoil inside me. "Hilda is running a bath for me. I'm going to go check on it," she said softly, untangling herself from the fragile embrace that held Luke and me together. "I'll come with you," I offered. There was something unspoken, an invitation in her eyes that I couldn't ignore. We left Luke in the living room, the air still thick with emotions none of us knew how to articulate. As we reached the bedroom, Lexi turned toward the bathroom door but paused. "Would you wait here for a moment? I need to talk to Hilda. Alone." "Are you okay?" I asked, the weight of the evening pressing down on me. Worry crept into my voice. She smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine, Clay. I just want to ask Hilda to give us some privacy and thank her." With a nod, I watched her slip into the bathroom, leaving me standing in what was now our bedroom. Pacing back and forth, the weight of what I'd just